Part 52 (2/2)

”Oh, he didn't hurt me much! You don't think a fellow would mind that sort of thing from his own father--when he was in a pa.s.sion, don't you know? Besides, Amy--to you I will confess it--I only gave him too good reason.”

”Come, then, come. We will go somewhere. I want to make you think the right way about the thing; and when you are sorry, we will come back and tell him so. Then perhaps he will forgive me and we shall be all happy again.”

What was this he heard! The cunning creature! This was her trick to entice him from his home!--And just as the poor boy was beginning to repent too! She knew her trade! She would fall in with his better mood and pretend goodness! She would help him to do what he ought! She would be his teacher in righteousness! Deep, deep she was--beyond anything he had dreamed possible! No doubt the fellow was just as bad as she, but not the less must he do what little he yet might for the redemption of his son!

But as he thought thus it smote him that Cornelius could not but prefer going with one who loved him, and talked to him like that, let her be what she might, to staying with a father who treated him as he had been doing ever since he came home! He would behave to him very differently after this! But he must interfere now, cost what it might! What else was he father for!

He pushed the door wide and went in.

Amy heard and raised herself from the bed, stood upright and faced the comer. There was just light enough to see that it was the father. The horrid idea shot through her mind that it was his custom to come thus to his son's room in the night and lash him. She roused every fevered nerve to do battle with the strong man for his son. Clenching her little hands hard, she stood like a small David between the bed and the coming Goliath.

”Get out of this,” he said, with the sternness of wrath suppressed.

”I came to take him away,” said Amy, who had begun to tremble from head to foot. ”It is my business to take care of him.”

”Your business to take care of him from his own”--he hesitated, then said--”mother?” which certainly was the more fitting word.

”If,” answered Amy, ”a man is to leave father and mother and cleave to his wife, it's the least thing the wife can do to take care of him from his father!”

Mr. Raymount stood confounded: what could the hussey mean? Was she going to pretend she was married to him? Indignation and rage began to rise afresh; but if he gave way what might he not be guilty of a second time!

A rush of shame choked the words that crowded to his lips; and with the self-restraint came wholesome doubt: was it possible he had married her?

Was it not possible? Would it not be just worthy of him to have done so and never told one of his family! At least there need be nothing incredible in it! This girl--yes--plainly she had both cunning and fascination enough to make him not only run after her but marry her! How was he to come at the truth of the thing? The coward would not have the courage to contradict her, but he would know if he were lying!

”Do you mean to tell me,” he said, ”that he has married you--without a word to his own father or mother?”

Then out at last spoke Cornelius, rising on his elbow in the bed:

”Yes, father,” he said, with slow determination, ”I have married her. It is all my fault, not one bit hers. I could never have persuaded her had I not made her believe you knew all about it and had no objection.”

”Why did you not let us know then?” cried the father in a voice which ill suited the tameness of the question.

”Because I was a coward,” answered Corney, speaking the truth with courage. ”I knew you would not like it.”

”Little _you_ know of what I like or dislike!”

”You can soon prove him wrong, sir!” said Amy, clasping her hands, and looking up in his face through the growing light of the morning.

”Forgive us, and take me too; I was so happy to think I was going to belong to you all! I would never have married him, if I had known--without your consent, I mean. It was very wrong of Corney, but I will try to make him sorry for it.”

”You never will!” said Corney, again burying his head in the pillow.

Now first the full horror of what he had done broke upon the mind of Mr.

Raymount. He stood for a moment appalled.

”You will let me take him away then?” said Amy, thinking he hesitated to receive her.

<script>